We are the Ancestors
of Tomorrow
To be witnessed.
Healing unfolds both within oneself
and through the support of a community.
This is a monologue of an elder woman reflecting
on her choices and reimagining her actions
.Healing unfolds both within oneself
and through the support of a community.
This is a monologue of an elder woman reflecting
on her choices and reimagining her actions
Amma Reimagined, Performance
To reimagine is to break free from the shackles of trauma. For me, as an Indian woman, this means confronting the deep-rooted impacts of Brahmanical patriarchy—unlearning the ideas instilled in childhood and perpetuated through literature. My project focuses on this process of unlearning and reimagining, using storytelling and performance as tools for collective liberation.
Central to this work is the poem Amma by O. N. V. Kurup, which I’ve chosen as a starting point. While the poem reflects on the sacrifices of a mother, my approach shifts the focus from glorifying such sacrifice to empathizing with the complexities of her experience. Through workshops centered on storytelling and role play, participants engage deeply with the characters, fostering care, trust, and dialogue within the community. These workshops create a space to brainstorm alternative narratives, breaking away from traditional ideals of womanhood that prioritize devotion and self-effacement.
The final output of this collaborative process is a performance that interweaves the collective insights from the workshops with a personal monologue. This monologue represents the voice of the woman, calling out to society to hope, dream, and actively work toward a future of liberation for all.
By engaging with literature, reimagining narratives, and creating performances, this project aims to challenge the structures of Brahmanical patriarchy. It encourages participants and audiences alike to envision possibilities of care, equality, and freedom that transcend societal constraints.